Mayor Sly James thanked and congratulated about two dozen Kansas City property owners and building managers on Monday for taking part in his 2014 Energy Challenge, an initiative to encourage energy efficiency, cost savings and cleaner air in the Kansas City region.
“Efficiency is one priority on my four-point agenda,” Mayor James said. “Efficiency is good for business and good for livability. Energy efficiency not only saves money. It helps improve the air we breathe, making Kansas City a better place to live.”
Also speaking at the event held at the Chamber of Commerce of Greater Kansas City on Monday were Councilman Scott Taylor, who has championed the energy efficiency efforts in Kansas City.
“Today’s announcement that more than 175 buildings took part in the Mayor’s 2014 Energy Challenge is proof positive that Kansas City can be a leader in energy efficiency,” said Councilman Scott Taylor. “I am proud to be part of this project, and commend the work of the City Energy Project Advisory Committee, a stakeholder group of volunteers, who are working on reducing energy consumption in Kansas City’s largest buildings.”
Welcoming the approximately 100 attendees on behalf of the Chamber was Adam Blake of Brightergy, a local company that pairs innovative energy solutions with proprietary financing to enable companies to control energy management.
About two dozen companies were cited for extraordinary participation. Five companies were cited for managing buildings that qualify for ENERGY STAR® certification, meaning their buildings did better than at least 75 percent of peer buildings when it comes energy use.
Receiving plaques were 2555 Grand Boulevard, the home of Shook Hardy & Bacon, owned and managed by the commercial real estate firm, Hines; Burns & McDonnell; Freightquote; JE Dunn Construction and the City of Kansas City.
James said: “Kansas City made this list because we submitted more than 60 buildings for the Energy Challenge, including fire stations, community centers, police stations and many others you might not think about, like the Gem Theater and the two downtown parking facilities. I and the City Council and City Manager Troy Schulte want the city to lead by example, and I’m proud that we do.”
The Energy Challenge commenced In the summer of 2014 when The Chamber invited members to benchmark their energy consumption with ENERGY STAR® Portfolio Manager.
The City Energy Project — a joint initiative of the Natural Resources Defense Council and the Institute for Market Transformation — rolled out during the summer of 2014 with a national grant initiative, funded by a partnership of Bloomberg Philanthropies, the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, and The Kresge Foundation.
Kansas City is one of 10 US cities awarded a City Energy Project grant, and the only proposal to include a strong partnership with a regional chamber and the local, investor-owned electrical utility, KCP&L.
